N.H.L.: ROUNDUP

N.H.L.: ROUNDUP; Hasek Injured In Sabres' 4-2 Victory

Published: October 6, 2000

The Buffalo Sabres opened with a win, but their new season suddenly resembles the last as goalie Dominik Hasek is hurt again.

Hasek strained a ligament under his left kneecap in the first period of the Sabres' 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks last night. Hasek, who missed 40 games last season with a groin strain, is day to day.

Hasek was hurt 11:35 into the game when Buffalo defenseman Jay McKee bowled over Tony Amonte during a scramble in front. Amonte then fell forward into the crease, coming down hard on the back of Hasek's left leg.

Without the five-time Vezina Trophy winner, and with backup Martin Biron an unsigned free agent, the Sabres were forced to go with Mika Noronen, last year's American Hockey League rookie of the year. Noromen stopped 15 shots in his NHL debut.

FLYERS 6, CANUCKS 3: The Philadelphia Flyers are doing just fine without Eric Lindros - for one game at least.

Eric Desjardins scored two goals, including the game-winner, and rookie Justin Williams added a goal and assist as the Flyers began the post-Lindros Era with a victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

It was the first time in nine seasons the Flyers played a home opener without Lindros.

SENATORS 4, BRUNS 4: Sergei Samsonov, a contract holdout for most of training camp, scored with 3:20 left in the third period and the boston Bruins spoiled Alexei Yashin's return to the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators were trailing 3-2 when Yashin, the Senators' career leading scorer who missed last season in his own contract holdout, assisted on Marian Hossa's power-play goal that tied the game with 8:34 left in the third period.

In the third period, with Brendan Shanahan off for roughing, Maltby and Kris Draper broke out on a two on one with Maltby firing a shot from 20 feet that trickled through the pads of goalie Fred Brathwaite.

The goal at 11:59 capped a terrible night for the calgary power play. The Flames went 0 for 9 with the extra man while the Red Wings were 1 for 4.

REFEREES FINED FOR GAFFE: The National Hockey League fined the referees Mark Faucette and Dan O'Halloran yesterday for incorrectly allowing Colorado and Dallas to begin overtime of their season opener Wednesday five on four.

When a game goes into overtime, the extra period is supposed to be played four on four instead of the usual five on five. However, when a power play carries into overtime - as it did the N.H.L. season opener in Dallas - the period is supposed to begin four on three.

Dallas's Derian Hatcher received an elbowing penalty with 40 seconds remaining in the third period of the 2-2 tie. The referees allowed both teams to begin the overtime with an extra skater. The amount of the fine was not disclosed.

EXTENSION FOR VIGNEAULT: Alain Vigneault, a finalist last season in voting for the N.H.L.'s top coach, signed a one-year contract extension yesterday with the Montreal Canadiens.

Financial terms were not disclosed. Vigneault is under contract with the team through the 2001-02 season.

Vigneault, 39, is entering his fourth season with the Canadiens. He guided Montreal to a 37-32-13 record and an Eastern Conference semifinals berth in his first season, but the club has missed the play-offs each of the last two years.

KIDD BEATS OUT LUONGO: Trevor Kidd will begin the season as the Florida Panthers' starting goalie, holding off a challenge from Roberto Luongo.

Kidd will start tonight's opener agains the Vancouver Canucks, even though Luongo outplayed him during the exhibition season, Coach Terry Murray said yesterday.

''If you look just at the numbers in training camp, you hesitate,'' Murray said. ''But the No. 1 coming in was Trevor Kidd, and it was clear-cut for me because of the veteran.''

ODELEIN NAMED COLUMBUS CAPTAIN: Defenseman Lyle Odelein, an alternate captain when Montreal won the Stanley Cup in 1993, was picked yesterday as the first captain of the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets.